1985 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand

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The 1985 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand was a mid-season tour of New Zealand by the Australia national rugby league team. The Australians played six matches on tour, including the final two games of a three-game test series against the Graham Lowe coached, Mark Graham captained New Zealand Kiwis, with the first test taking place at Lang Park in Brisbane on 18 June. The New Zealand tour began on 19 June and finished on 10 July. [1]

Contents

Squad and Leadership

After long time coach Frank Stanton stepped down from representative coaching duties after Australia's successful defence of The Ashes in 1984 against the touring Great Britain Lions, the Australian Rugby League re-appointed 1977 Rugby League World Cup Final winning coach and former Parramatta Eels coach Terry Fearnley as head coach of the Kangaroos. The team was captained by Queensland captain Wally Lewis who had captained the team since the 1984 Ashes series. Balmain's New South Wales captain-in waiting Wayne Pearce was chosen as the team vice-captain after Blues captain Steve Mortimer announced his retirement from representative football and declined to tour.

The team consisted of 19 players, 13 of them from the Winfield Cup with all being from New South Wales except for red-headed Manly-Warringah back rower Paul Vautin who was the only Queensland player selected from the Sydney Premiership. 5 of the 6 Queensland based players were drawn from the Brisbane Rugby League competition with only hooker Greg Conescu picked from country Queensland as he was playing for Past Brothers in Gladstone.

Controversy

While he was named Australian coach, Terry Fearnley had also been appointed as New South Wales State of Origin coach in 1985. After losing the single Origin games played in 1980 and 1981, as well as the 1982, 1983 and 1984 Origin series, the once dominant Blues won their first ever Origin series in 1985 after winning games 1 and 2. In what was to prove a case of bad planning, the test series and the tour of NZ were scheduled to take place between games 2 and 3 of the Origin series.

Rumours soon surfaced that Fearnley and Lewis did not get along on tour. Lewis later confirmed this by admitting in television interviews that the pair hated each other while Fearnley openly admitted that in light of the circumstances he could have done a better job in bringing the team together (Steve Mortimer, who had formed a close friendship with Lewis since they first teamed together in the Australian halves in 1981 and were room mates on the 1982 Kangaroo tour, later also said that he regretted his decision not to tour as he believed his relationships with both of them could have acted as a bridge and eased the tension). Wally Lewis also publicly stated that he believed Fearnley openly favoured vice-captain Wayne Pearce, as well as the rest of the Kangaroos who were from his NSW team. At one point before the third test in Auckland, Lewis claimed to have caught Fearnley and Pearce going over team selection in Fearnley's hotel room, something strongly denied by the pair.

Fearnley himself created controversy on the tour. In the book King Wally which was published in 1987, Wally Lewis claimed that Fearnley had said of team member Michael O'Connor, a NSW player, "Can't play, no heart. Lucky he can kick goals or he wouldn't be here" (a former Wallabies rugby union international, O'Connor was the only player not to play a test on the tour). The publishing of this story led to some animosity over the coming years between Lewis and O'Connor despite them being regular Test team mates until the end of 1989. But the biggest controversy came from the team selection for the third test. Fearnley dropped five players from the second test win, four of them Queenslanders (Chris Close, Mark Murray, Greg Dowling and Greg Conescu - Close and Dowling dropped to the bench. Noel Cleal who played from the bench in the 2nd Test was the only NSW player dropped), which caused all hell to break loose and prompted Queensland Rugby League Chairman, Federal Senator Ron McAuliffe, to publicly condemn the dropping of the four Queensland players from a winning Test side, saying "Its a football assassination and beyond all reasoning. And there can be no reasonable excuse for it". [2]

With the replacement players in place (Steve Ella, Des Hasler, Peter Tunks and Benny Elias), the disjointed Kangaroos would go on to lose the third test 18–0, the first time they had been held scoreless since losing 19–0 to Great Britain in the 3rd Ashes series Test of the 1956–57 Kangaroo tour. Such was the animosity in the group between the NSW and Qld players that according to second row forward Paul "Fatty" Vautin (one of 4 Queensland players who retained their spot in the starting XIII) in his book Fatty: The Strife and Times of Paul Vautin, two of the dropped players Mark Murray and Greg Conescu, acted as the Australian teams statisticians for the game and that both recorded a number of errors that were actually made by team mates to the players who directly replaced them in the side, Hasler and Elias. [3]

Terry Fearnley stepped down as Australian coach following the tour. He would be replaced in 1986 by 1956–57 Kangaroo tourist and Canberra Raiders head coach Don Furner.

As a result of the problems during the tour, the Australian Rugby League made a number of decisions for future Australian teams, including:

Touring squad

* Tests and (as sub) not included in games totals.
* Table includes Brisbane Test.

PlayerClubPosition(s)Games
(as sub)
Tests
(as sub)
TriesGoalsF/GoalsPoints
Noel Cleal Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Second-row 31 (1)50020
Chris Close Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Centre 22 (1)2008
Greg Conescu Brothers Colours.svg Past Brothers Gladstone (Qld) Hooker 220000
Greg Dowling Wynnum-Manly Colours.svg Wynnum Manly Seagulls (Qld) Prop 22 (1)0000
Benny Elias Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers Hooker 2 (1)10000
Steve Ella Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Fullback , Centre , Five-eighth 31 (1)2008
John Ferguson Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters Wing 332008
Des Hasler Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Halfback , Wing 3150020
Garry Jack Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers Fullback 2 (2)340016
Wally Lewis (c) Wynnum-Manly Colours.svg Wynnum Manly Seagulls (Qld) Five-eighth 231004
Mal Meninga Western Suburbs colours.svg Souths Magpies (Qld) Centre 23311034
Mark Murray Redcliffe colours.svg Redcliffe Dolphins (Qld) Halfback 2 (1)20000
Michael O'Connor St. George colours.svg St George Dragons Centre , Fullback 4313038
Wayne Pearce (vc) Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers Lock 330000
John Ribot Redcliffe colours.svg Redcliffe Dolphins (Qld) Wing 4363024
Steve Roach Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers Prop 2 (1)30000
Peter Tunks Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Prop 41 (1)0000
Paul Vautin Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Second-row 120000
Peter Wynn Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Second-row , Lock 130000

Tour

First test

Immediately prior to the tour, the first test took place at Lang Park in Brisbane on 18 June. This match is most remembered for the sideline fight between rival prop forwards Greg Dowling and Kevin Tamati after the pair had been sent to the sin-bin for fighting. [4]

Tuesday, 18 June
Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg26 – 20Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Tries: 5
John Ribot (2)
Noel Cleal
Chris Close
Steve Roach
Goals: 3
Mal Meninga (2/6)
John Ribot (1/1)
[5] [6] [7]
Tries: 3
Dean Bell
Olsen Filipaina
Hugh McGahan
Goals: 4
Olsen Filipaina (4)
Lang Park, Brisbane
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: Julien Rascagnères Flag of France.svg
Player of the Match: Olsen Filipaina New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg
Kit left arm goldborder 2.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body kangaroos1.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm goldborder.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts thingoldsides.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks hoops gold.png
Kit socks long.svg
Australia
Kit left arm whiteshoulders.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body NZKiwis.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm whiteshoulders.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks 2whitestripes.png
Kit socks long.svg
New Zealand
FB1 Garry Jack
LW2 John Ribot
CE3 Chris Close
CE4 Mal Meninga
RW5 John Ferguson
FE6 Wally Lewis (c)
HB7 Mark Murray
PR8 Greg Dowling
HK9 Greg Conescu
PR10 Steve Roach
SR11 Noel Cleal
SR12 Peter Wynn
LF13 Wayne Pearce
Substitutions:
IC14 Steve Ella
IC15 Peter Tunks
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Terry Fearnley
FB1 Gary Kemble
LW2 Dean Bell
CE3 Gary Prohm
CE4 James Leuluai
RW5 Dane O'Hara
FE6 Olsen Filipaina
HB7 Clayton Friend
PR8 Owen Wright
HK9 Howie Tamati
PR10 Kevin Tamati
SR11 Kurt Sorensen
SR12 Mark Graham (c)
LK13 Hugh McGahan
Substitutions:
IC14 Riki Cowan
IC15 Mark Elia
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham Lowe

The Australians played six games on the tour, winning five.


Sunday 23 June
South Island New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg 0 – 56 Australian colours.svg Australia
Tries:
Goals:
Report
Tries:
Mal Meninga (3), Des Hasler (2), John Ribot (2), John Ferguson, Garry Jack, Wally Lewis, Michael O'Connor
Goals:
Mal Meninga (6/11)
Addington Showgrounds, Christchurch
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Don Wilson Flag of New Zealand.svg
Player of the Match: Mal Meninga Australian colours.svg

South Island: Robin Alfeld, Mike Kerrigan, Bill Baker, Lance Setu, Marty Crequer, David Field (c), Glen Gibb, Paul Truscott, Wayne Wallace, Ross Taylor, Adrian Shelford, Brent Stuart, Barry Edkins. Reserves – Boyd Kilkelly, David Campbell. Coach – Ray Haffenden

Australia: Steve Ella, John Ferguson, Michael O'Connor, Mal Meninga, John Ribot, Wally Lewis (c), Des Hasler, Steve Roach, Benny Elias, Peter Tunks, Wally Fullerton Smith, Noel Cleal, Peter Wynn. Reserves – Garry Jack, Greg Conescu


Wednesday, 26 June
Central Districts Newcastle colours.svg 4 – 24 Australian colours.svg Australia
Tries:
John Gray
Goals:
Report
Tries:
Chris Close, John Ferguson, Des Hasler
Goals:
Mal Meninga (1)
Michael O'Connor (1)
Hutt Recreation Ground, Wellington
Attendance: 5,500
Referee: Tony Drake

Central Districts: Vaun O'Callaghan, Bill Baker, Ben Mathews, Kelly Shelford, John Gray, Gerard Katene, Phil Bancroft, Glen Bell, James Goulding, Barry Harvey, Sam Stewart, Mike Kuiti, Phillip Henry. Reserves – Gary Freeman, Dave MacFarlane. Coach – John O'Sullivan

Australia: Michael O'Connor, John Ferguson, Chris Close, Mal Meninga, John Ribot, Mark Murray, Des Hasler, Steve Roach, Greg Conescu, Peter Tunks, Wally Fullerton Smith, Paul Vautin, Wayne Pearce (c). Reserves – Garry Jack, Benny Elias


Second test

The Australians escaped with a 10-6 win over New Zealand thanks to a last minute try to winger John Ribot.

Sunday, 30 June
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg6 – 10Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries:
James Leuluai
Goals:
Olsen Filipaina (1)
[8] [9] [10]
Tries:
John Ribot
Goals:
Mal Meninga (2)
John Ribot (1)
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 19,132
Referee: Julien Rascagnères Flag of France.svg
Player of the Match: Olsen Filipaina New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg
Kit left arm whiteshoulders.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body NZKiwis.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm whiteshoulders.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks 2whitestripes.png
Kit socks long.svg
New Zealand
Kit left arm goldborder 2.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body kangaroos1.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm goldborder.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts thingoldsides.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks hoops gold.png
Kit socks long.svg
Australia
FB1 Gary Kemble
LW2 Dean Bell
CE3 Gary Prohm
CE4 James Leuluai
RW5 Dane O'Hara
FE6 Olsen Filipaina
HB7 Clayton Friend
PR8 Owen Wright
HK9 Howie Tamati
PR10 Kevin Tamati
SR11 Kurt Sorensen
SR12 Mark Graham (c)
LK13 Hugh McGahan
Substitutions:
IC14 Joe Ropati
IC15 Riki Cowan
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham Lowe
FB1 Garry Jack
LW2 John Ribot
CE3 Chris Close
CE4 Mal Meninga
RW5 John Ferguson
FE6 Wally Lewis (c)
HB7 Mark Murray
PR8 Greg Dowling
HK9 Greg Conescu
PR10 Steve Roach
SR11 Paul Vautin
SR12 Peter Wynn
LF13 Wayne Pearce
Substitutions:
IC14 Noel Cleal
IC15 Steve Ella
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Terry Fearnley

Wednesday, 3 July
Northern Districts New South Wales colours.svg 6 – 52 Australian colours.svg Australia
Tries:
Shane Horo
Goals:
Rusty Campbell (1)
Report
Tries:
Noel Cleal (2), Steve Ella (2), Garry Jack (2), Benny Elias, Wally Fullerton Smith, Des Hasler, Michael O'Connor, John Ribot
Goals:
Michael O'Connor (3/8)
John Ribot (1/2)
Okara Park, Whangārei
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Ray Shrimpton
Player of the Match: Peter Tunks Australian colours.svg

Northern Districts: George Huriwai, Terry Rapana, Walter Toka, Pihama Green, Shane Horo, Russell Stewart, Glenn Donaldson, Tom Murray, Trevor Clark, Darren Harris, Mark Horo, Rusty Campbell, Neville Ramsey. Reserves – Poko Daniels, Derek Nukunuka. Coach – Tony Gordon

Australia: Garry Jack, John Ribot, Michael O'Connor, Steve Ella, John Ferguson, Wally Lewis (c), Des Hasler, Greg Dowling, Benny Elias, Peter Tunks, Noel Cleal, Wally Fullerton Smith, Wayne Pearce. Reserves – Mark Murray, Steve Roach


Third test

The dead rubber third test also doubled as the first game of the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup tournament. John Ribot, Steve Ella, John Ferguson, Peter Wynn and Chris Close played their last tests for Australia.

Sunday, 7 July
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg18 – 0Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries:
Clayton Friend (2)
James Leuluai
Goals:
Olsen Filipaina (3/4)
[11] [12] [13]
Tries:
Goals:
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 15,327
Referee: Julien Rascagnères Flag of France.svg
Player of the Match: Clayton Friend New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg
Kit left arm whiteshoulders.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body NZKiwis.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm whiteshoulders.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks 2whitestripes.png
Kit socks long.svg
New Zealand
Kit left arm goldborder 2.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body kangaroos1.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm goldborder.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts thingoldsides.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks hoops gold.png
Kit socks long.svg
Australia
FB1 Gary Kemble
LW2 Dean Bell
CE3 Gary Prohm
CE4 James Leuluai
RW5 Dane O'Hara
FE6 Olsen Filipaina
HB7 Clayton Friend
PR8 Owen Wright
HK9 Howie Tamati
PR10 Kevin Tamati
SR11 Kurt Sorensen
SR12 Mark Graham (c)
LK13 Hugh McGahan
Substitutions:
IC14 Joe Ropati
IC15 Riki Cowan
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Graham Lowe
FB1 Garry Jack
LW2 John Ribot
CE3 Mal Meninga
CE4 Steve Ella
RW5 John Ferguson
FE6 Wally Lewis (c)
HB7 Des Hasler
PR8 Peter Tunks
HK9 Benny Elias
PR10 Steve Roach
SR11 Paul Vautin
SR12 Peter Wynn
LF13 Wayne Pearce
Substitutions:
IC14 Chris Close
IC15 Greg Dowling
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Terry Fearnley

Tuesday, 9 July
Auckland Canterbury colours.svg 10 – 50 Australian colours.svg Australia
Tries:
Mark Bourneville, Dennis Stewart
Goals:
Nick Wright (1)
Report
Tries:
Chris Close (3), Noel Cleal (2), Des Hasler, Garry Jack, Michael O'Connor
Goals:
Michael O'Connor (9/11)
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Dennis Hale

Auckland: Nick Wright, Mark Bourneville, Darrell Williams, Ron O'Regan, Mark Elia, Kelly Shelford, Sam Panapa, Riki Cowan, Tracey McGregor, Frank Tinitelia, James Goulding, Dennis Stewart, Ian Bell. Reserves – . Coach – Bob Bailey

Australia: Garry Jack, Des Hasler, Chris Close, Michael O'Connor, John Ribot, Steve Ella, Mark Murray, Peter Tunks, Greg Conescu, Greg Dowling, Wally Fullerton Smith, Noel Cleal, Wayne Pearce (c). Reserves –


Statistics

* stats only for games played in New Zealand. First Test in Brisbane not included here.
Leading Try Scorer

Leading Point Scorer

Largest Test Attendance

Largest non-test Attendance

References

  1. 1985 Kangaroo Tour of New Zealand @ Rugby League Project
  2. McGregor, Adrian (1987). King Wally. Qld: Tandem Press. ISBN   9780908884353.
  3. Colman, Mike (1992). Fatty: The Strife and Times of Paul Vautin. Sydney: Ironbark Press. ISBN   9781875471171.
  4. Dowling vs Tamati fight
  5. 1st Test - Australia vs New Zealand
  6. "Rugby League - Filipaina hauled from reserves to subdue 'dangerous' Lewis". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 18 Jun 1985. p. 22. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.
  7. "Free-running Test sways in Australia's favour". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 19 Jun 1985. p. 40. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.
  8. Second Test - New Zealand v Australia
  9. "Rugby League - Australia dwarfed by NZ experience". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 30 Jun 1985. p. 29. Retrieved 1 Jan 2022.
  10. Foster, Michael (1 Jul 1985). "Tension shows in trans-Tasman Test - Australia seizes chance for its brilliant break". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. p. 28. Retrieved 1 Jan 2022.
  11. Third Test - New Zealand v Australia
  12. "Times sport - Ella steps out of shadows". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 7 Jul 1985. p. 5. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.
  13. "Rugby League - Kiwis humble the champions 18-0". The Canberra Times . Canberra: National Library of Australia. 8 Jul 1985. p. 20. Retrieved 31 Dec 2021.